{"id":17452,"date":"2018-05-19T22:40:19","date_gmt":"2018-05-20T03:40:19","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/?p=17452"},"modified":"2018-05-19T22:49:07","modified_gmt":"2018-05-20T03:49:07","slug":"kevin-harvick-continues-phenomenal-roll-with-monster-energy-all-star-victory","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/2018\/05\/19\/kevin-harvick-continues-phenomenal-roll-with-monster-energy-all-star-victory\/","title":{"rendered":"Kevin Harvick continues phenomenal roll with Monster Energy All-Star victory"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"

Kevin Harvick, driver of the #4 Jimmy John’s Ford, celebrates in Victory Lane after winning the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series All-Star Race at Charlotte Motor Speedway on May 19, 2018 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Brian Lawdermilk\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

By Reid Spencer, NASCAR Wire Service<\/em><\/p>\n

CONCORD, N.C. \u2013 Kevin Harvick\u2019s<\/strong> answer to NASCAR\u2019s<\/a> new competition package was the same old song\u2014another victory in a season that already has produced a surfeit of success.<\/p>\n

\"\"

Kevin Harvick, driver of the #4 Jimmy John’s Ford, takes the checkered flag to win the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series All-Star Race at Charlotte Motor Speedway on May 19, 2018 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Sean Gardner\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

This time it was Saturday night\u2019s Monster Energy NASCAR All-Star Race<\/strong> at Charlotte Motor Speedway<\/strong>, with a restrictor-plate limiting the horsepower and a large blade on the rear of the cars providing downforce and maneuverability.<\/p>\n

Harvick\u2019s No. 4 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford was still the strongest car in the field, and the driver who already has five points wins this season added another in the marquee exhibition race, taking control of the event with an overtime surge at the end of the 20-lap third stage and sealing the victory by outrunning Daniel Suarez in the final two-lap drag race to the finish.<\/p>\n

With lane choice on the final restart, Harvick picked the top lane in front of eventual third-place finisher Joey Logano. The choice paid off, as Logano gave the No. 4 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford a strong push off the second corner, allowing Harvick to clear the No. 19 Toyota on the backstretch.<\/p>\n

\"\"

Kevin Harvick, driver of the #4 Jimmy John’s Ford, celebrates with a burnout after winning the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series All-Star Race at Charlotte Motor Speedway on May 19, 2018 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Sean Gardner\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

\u201cI thought on that last restart that my best opportunity was Logano,\u201d Harvick acknowledged. \u201cHe\u2019s one of the best on the restarts. I knew he would work with me as good as possible, because that\u2019s just the way that most of us do it from Ford. We were able to just stay even through (Turns) 1 and 2, and I really thought once we got to the backstretch we could clear him.<\/p>\n

I didn\u2019t want to be on the bottom. I didn\u2019t feel my car was stable enough to be under someone when they were on my right side. I had to take my lumps through 1 and 2 and hope that the guy behind me was still with me when we got to the exit of 2, and we were able to win.\u201d<\/p>\n

The third-stage victory also proved critical. In the second attempt at overtime, Harvick passed Kyle Larson for the top spot and held on to win the stage. That gave him lane choice for the final stage, and he never relinquished the lead.<\/p>\n

\"\"

Kevin Harvick, driver of the #4 Jimmy John’s Ford, celebrates with a burnout after winning the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series All-Star Race at Charlotte Motor Speedway on May 19, 2018 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Sean Gardner\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

\u201cWe needed to be in control of the race to have a chance at winning,\u201d Harvick said. \u201cIf we were third or fourth, we would have been in big trouble. We needed to be on the front row with clean air, because that was the only chance our car would handle good enough. It was so fast.\u201d<\/p>\n

Harvick picked up his second victory in the All-Star Race, the first won coming in 2007. The winner of the previous two Cup points races, at Dover and Kansas, Harvick didn\u2019t earn championship points for his victory at Charlotte, but he did claim the $1-million prize that goes to the winner. <\/p>\n

Leading every lap of the final 10-lap segment of the scheduled 80-lap event, Harvick crossed the finish line .325 seconds ahead of Suarez, who came close to clearing Harvick off the second corner after the final restart but didn\u2019t have enough room to slide up in front of the No. 4.<\/p>\n

\"\"

Kevin Harvick, driver of the #4 Jimmy John’s Ford, leads Daniel Suarez, driver of the #19 ARRIS Toyota, during a restart during the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series All-Star Race at Charlotte Motor Speedway on May 19, 2018 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Sean Gardner\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

Denny Hamlin was fourth, followed by Chase Elliott, who earned the last spot in the 21-car main event via the Fan Vote. Jimmy Johnson, Kyle Larson, AJ Allmendinger, Kyle Busch and Kasey Kahne completed the top 10. Kahne rallied from four laps down after contact with the frontstretch wall on Lap 56.<\/p>\n

Suarez got a push from Hamlin on the final restart, but the Joe Gibbs Racing teammates didn\u2019t stay connected as long as Harvick and Logano did.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe 11 (Hamlin) was doing a very good job as much as he could to push me,\u201d Suarez said. \u201cFor whatever reason, he just disconnected a little bit, and I couldn\u2019t keep the run with the 4 (Harvick) and the 22 (Logano).<\/p>\n

\u201cThey stayed connected for the entire corner, and after that I knew it was going to be tough. After that, I started just playing defense. I tried to slow them down, and I just didn\u2019t do a good job or I just couldn\u2019t do it enough.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"

Kevin Harvick, driver of the #4 Jimmy John’s Ford, and Daniel Suarez, driver of the #19 ARRIS Toyota, lead the field during the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series All-Star Race at Charlotte Motor Speedway on May 19, 2018 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Sean Gardner\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

A six-car wreck that started near the apex of Turns 3 and 4 on Lap 75\u2014during the first attempt at overtime at the end of Stage 3\u2014eliminated the strong cars of Martin Truex Jr. and Brad Keselowski, both of whom led laps in the event.<\/p>\n

Truex entered the corner four-wide with Ricky Stenhouse Jr. below him, Clint Bowyer to his outside at Kurt Busch at the top of the track. Contact with Stenhouse\u2019s Ford sent Truex\u2019s Toyota up the track into Bowyer\u2019s Ford, trapping Busch against the outside wall. Kyle Busch\u2019s Camry also sustained damage in the wreck.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe had a really strong race car and felt like we maybe had a shot to win it,\u201d Truex said. \u201cJust four-wide going into (Turn) 3 there, and we all just ran out of room. The 17 (Stenhouse), I had him squeezed down so low, I just don\u2019t know that he could hold it down there.<\/p>\n

\"\"

Fans look on during the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series All-Star Race at Charlotte Motor Speedway on May 19, 2018 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Sean Gardner\/Getty Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

\u201cI was trying to keep the 14 (Bowyer) to my outside and just one those deals at the end of the race. I knew we had to get through that green-white-checkered to have a shot to win, but I also knew if I lifted there, I would have been the only one that lifted, and the others would have went on and passed me, and we wouldn\u2019t have won this thing.\u201d<\/p>\n

Fans got their first look at the new competition package in the Monster Energy Open, which produced scintillating racing and multiple lead changes in each of the three stages. Race winner Allmendinger advanced to the main event, along with Stage 1 winner Alex Bowman and Stage 2 winner Suarez, who fell one spot short of the rare feat of winning the All-Star Race after transferring from the Open.<\/p>\n

Notes:<\/strong> Harvick led the final 25 laps of the first stage. All told, he led 36 of the 93 laps (with the race extended 13 laps by the Stage 3 overtimes)\u2026 Kyle Busch led the final 19 laps of Stage 2 as the only driver other than Harvick to take a checkered flag on Saturday\u2026 Harvick\u2019s pit crew climbed the frontstretch catch fence en masse after the victory\u2026 Truex led three times for 17 laps before being wiped out in the Lap 75 wreck.<\/p>\n

Media Center Interviews:<\/h3>\n

Kevin Harvick – <\/p>\nhttp:\/\/racedaysa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/MENCS_CMS_HarvickChilders_Zippadelli_051918.mp3<\/a><\/audio>\n

 <\/p>\n

Daniel Suarez and Joey Logano – <\/p>\nhttp:\/\/racedaysa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/MENCS_CMS_LoganoSuarez_051918.mp3<\/a><\/audio>\n

 <\/p>\n

Steve O’Donnell – <\/p>\nhttp:\/\/racedaysa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/MENCS_CMS_ODonnell_051918.mp3<\/a><\/audio>\n

 <\/p>\n

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Race – Monster Energy NASCAR All-Star Race<\/b><\/p>\n

Charlotte Motor Speedway<\/b><\/p>\n

Concord, North Carolina<\/b><\/p>\n

Saturday, May 19, 2018<\/b><\/p>\n

               1. (4) Kevin Harvick, Ford, 93.<\/p>\n

               2. (19) Daniel Suarez, Toyota, 93.<\/p>\n

               3. (10) Joey Logano, Ford, 93.<\/p>\n

               4. (14) Denny Hamlin, Toyota, 93.<\/p>\n

               5. (21) Chase Elliott, Chevrolet, 93.<\/p>\n

               6. (11) Jimmie Johnson, Chevrolet, 93.<\/p>\n

               7. (16) Kyle Larson, Chevrolet, 93.<\/p>\n

               8. (20) AJ Allmendinger, Chevrolet, 93.<\/p>\n

               9. (7) Kyle Busch, Toyota, 93.<\/p>\n

               10. (17) Kasey Kahne, Chevrolet, 93.<\/p>\n

               11. (2) Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Ford, 93.<\/p>\n

               12. (9) Austin Dillon, Chevrolet, 93.<\/p>\n

               13. (12) Jamie McMurray, Chevrolet, 93.<\/p>\n

               14. (1) Matt Kenseth, Ford, 93.<\/p>\n

               15. (6) Ryan Blaney, Ford, 93.<\/p>\n

               16. (13) Ryan Newman, Chevrolet, 93.<\/p>\n

               17. (5) Martin Truex Jr., Toyota, Accident, 75.<\/p>\n

               18. (15) Kurt Busch, Ford, Accident, 74.<\/p>\n

               19. (3) Clint Bowyer, Ford, Accident, 74.<\/p>\n

               20. (8) Brad Keselowski, Ford, Accident, 74.<\/p>\n

               21. (18) Alex Bowman, Chevrolet, Accident, 68.<\/p>\n

Average Speed of Race Winner:  84.688 mph.<\/p>\n

Time of Race:  1 Hrs, 38 Mins, 50 Secs. Margin of Victory:  0.325 Seconds.<\/p>\n

Caution Flags:  8 for 17 laps.<\/p>\n

Lead Changes:  12 among 7 drivers.<\/p>\n

Lap Leaders:   R. Stenhouse Jr. 1-5; K. Harvick 6-30; M. Truex Jr. 31; Kyle Busch 32-50; B. Keselowski 51; M. Truex Jr. 52; B. Keselowski 53-54; M. Truex Jr. 55-69; K. Larson 70-74; D. Hamlin 75-81; K. Larson 82; K. Harvick 83-93.<\/p>\n

Leaders Summary (Driver, Times Lead, Laps Led):  K. Harvick 2 times for 36 laps; Kyle Busch 1 time for 19 laps; M. Truex Jr. 3 times for 17 laps; D. Hamlin 1 time for 7 laps; K. Larson 2 times for 6 laps; R. Stenhouse Jr. 1 time for 5 laps; B. Keselowski 2 times for 3 laps.<\/p>\n

Stage 1 Winner: Kevin Harvick, #4<\/p>\n

Stage 2 Winner: Kyle Busch, #18<\/p>\n

Stage 3 Winner: Kevin Harvick, #4<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

  By Reid Spencer, NASCAR Wire Service CONCORD, N.C. \u2013 Kevin Harvick\u2019s answer to NASCAR\u2019s new competition package was the same old song\u2014another victory in a season that already has produced a surfeit of success. This time it was Saturday night\u2019s Monster Energy NASCAR All-Star Race at Charlotte Motor Speedway, with a restrictor-plate limiting the horsepower […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":17464,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[11],"tags":[233,95,16],"class_list":["post-17452","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nascar","tag-charlotte-motor-speedway","tag-kevin-harvick","tag-nascar"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/racedaysa.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/MENCS_CMS_VictoryLane_051918-e1526787324180.jpg?fit=640%2C429","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p7hzTZ-4xu","jetpack-related-posts":[],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17452","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=17452"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17452\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":17472,"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17452\/revisions\/17472"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/17464"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=17452"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=17452"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/racedaysa.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=17452"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}